The effects of ration size on migration by hatchery‐raised Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (Salmo trutta)

Abstract – The possibility to increase the proportion of migrating hatchery‐reared smolts by reducing their food ration was studied. Lake‐migrating, hatchery‐reared salmon (Salmo salar) and trout (Salmo trutta) smolts were either fed normal rations, based on recommendations from the fish‐farming industry, or reduced (15–20%) rations. They were released into the River Klarälven, western Sweden, and followed as they swam downstream to Lake Vänern, a distance of around 25 km. For both Atlantic salmon and brown trout, smolts fed a reduced ration migrated faster than fish fed a normal ration. Furthermore, a higher proportion of salmon smolts fed reduced rations migrated to the lake than fish fed normal rations in 2007 but not in 2006. This difference between years corresponded to greater treatment differences in size and smolt status in 2007 than in 2006. For trout, the proportion of migrating individuals and smolt development did not differ with ration size. Trout migrants fed a normal ration had a higher standard metabolic rate (SMR) than nonmigrants, whereas there was no difference in SMR between migrating and nonmigrating salmon. These results show that it is possible to use a reduced food ration to increase the migration speed of both Atlantic salmon and brown trout and to increase the proportion of migrating Atlantic salmon.     

Effects of marine protein‐, marine oil‐ and marine‐free diets on the growth performance and innate immune responses of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar,L.) post‐smolts

Atlantic salmon post‐smolts of an average of 940 g were fed six diets including two marine‐based commercial diets one with partial inclusion of vegetable proteins (VPs) and oils (VOs) (2011/12 EU standards) (MB) and a second with partial inclusion of VPs, land animal‐by‐product (ABP) proteins and VOs (non‐EU standards) (MBABP), a fully vegetable protein (VP) diet; a fully algal and VOs (VO) diet; a fishery‐free vegetable‐based (VP/VO) diet; and a fishery‐free diet with a mix of VPs and ABP proteins and a mix of algal and vegetable oils (MFABP). Growth was assessed at Days 104 and 175, whereas fillet proximate composition, haematology and innate immune responses were assessed upon termination. Overall, MB salmon was the best performing group for the full period in terms of feed intake and overall weight gain. MB and VP salmon exhibited the highest FCRs compared to the other groups, while VP salmon exhibited the highest condition factor (K) and VO salmon the lowest K compared to the other groups. Fillet proximate composition did not present differences among the six groups. MB salmon demonstrated the highest plasma lysozyme activity compared to the other groups while MFABP, VP and VP/VO salmon demonstrated higher plasma anti‐protease activity in contrast to MB salmon. The dietary groups did not present differences in plasma protein, total IgM or natural haemolytic activity while unaltered head kidney macrophage respiratory burst activity was also observed. Overall, diets free from marine proteins or oils and/or both were satisfactorily utilized by salmon without compromising their immune capacity, although longer adaptation periods are required.     

Survival of reared Atlantic salmon and sea trout in relation to marine conditions of smolt year in the Baltic Sea

The marine survival of hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and sea trout (Salmo trutta) was examined in relation to marine conditions during post-smolt migration and in relation to stock traits. In 1970–2001, Carlin-tagged smolts were released in the Iijoki and Oulujoki rivers, the northern Baltic Sea. When both species were analysed together, the abundance of the three prey fish, herring (Clupea harengus), smelt (Osmerus eperlanus) and vendace (Coregonus albula) correlated positively with the survival of salmonids. In addition, the increase in smolt size appeared to improve the survival rate. Sea surface temperature (SST) may have affected indirectly through the abundance of prey fish during the post-smolt migration of salmon and sea trout. The smelt and vendace showed a statistical effect on survival only when the temperature effects were not included in the models. In sea trout, an increasing smolt length was not significantly correlated with the survival in good herring recruitment years, but in poor years survival increased very rapidly with increasing smolt size. The recapture rates of the salmonids tended to decrease between the years 1970 and 2001. During the same time period, the June SST slightly decreased. The positive correlation between the annual summer SST and recapture rate of salmon may partly explain the decreasing trend in recapture rates. An increase in smolt size did not compensate for the decline in the recapture rate of either species.     

Predation of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., smolts and parr by red-breasted mergansers, Mergus serrator L., on two Scottish rivers

Abstract Current models estimating the impact of red-breasted mergansers, Mergus serrator L., on salmon, Salmo salar L., fisheries in Scotland fail to take account of any annual variation in the proportion of the diet that is smolts. During the 1987–1990 smolt runs, the annual variation in the diet of mergansers was estimated from the stomach contents of birds shot on two Scottish rivers. The proportion of salmon in the diet was greatest early in the smolt run (76–91% by weight), and contained proportionately more smolts than later in the run, when coarse fish were more prominent. There was little annual variation in the proportion of the diet that was juvenile salmon. However, the proportion of these fish that were smolts, was twice as great in some years than in others and this appeared to be independent of estimated annual smolt production in the rivers.     

Effects of tagging on migration behaviour,survival and growth of hatchery‐reared Atlantic salmon smolts

The effects of four different tagging methods (PIT, anchor T‐tag, Carlin tag and dummy radio transmitter) on survival, behaviour and growth of Atlantic salmon smolts during their downstream migration were examined in semi‐natural circular channels during a natural migration period in spring. Survival of smolts was high and tagging wounds healed well in all tagging groups. Tag loss rates were generally low, being the highest (2.5%) in the dummy radio transmitter group. Total length and body mass of the tagged and untagged smolts did not differ at the end of the experiment. Migration activity of smolts generally showed similar patterns among the treatments. However, Carlin‐tagged smolts started their migration slightly later than the PIT‐tagged fish, and smolts tagged with Carlin tag or dummy radio transmitter showed less overall migration activity than fish with PIT tag.     

Pike predation on hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon smolts in a northern Baltic river

Abstract –  The effect of pike Esox lucius predation on the mortality of newly stocked Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts was investigated in the Pyhäjoki River, Finland. The number of smolts eaten by pike was assessed by estimating the size of the pike population (mark–recapture experiment) and studying the stomach contents of pike. Before recapturing the pike, approximately 39,700 smolts were stocked upstream of the 2.5-km-long (89-ha) research area. The estimated size of the >40-cm pike population was 1507 (95% CL 1012–4731) individuals (17 pike and 29.8 kg·ha⁻¹). Pike were estimated to eat 29% of the released smolts during 1 week. The diet of the pike in the research area consisted almost entirely of smolts, whereas in the reference area with no stocked smolts, the meal sizes were significantly smaller and the importance of smolts as prey was substantially lower. Pike <40 cm had not eaten any smolts, probably indicating a size refuge for the smolts, or alternatively fear of intraspecific interactions or cannibalism of pike.     

A test of the cumulative effect of river weirs on downstream migration success,speed and mortality of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts: An empirical study

This study investigated the cumulative impact of weirs on the downstream migration of wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts in the River Foyle, Northern Ireland. In spring of 2013 fish were released in two tributaries of similar length; one tributary (impacted) had seven low‐head weirs along the migration pathway and the other was devoid of such structures (un‐impacted). Salmon smolts fitted with acoustic transmitters were monitored via a passive acoustic telemetry array during downstream migration. In 2014 the study was repeated only in the impacted tributary. Overall freshwater survival rates were high (>94%). There was no significant difference in mortality, movement pattern, delay or travel speeds between rivers or between years at any phase of migration. Escapement of salmon smolts through Lough Foyle (a marine sea lough) to the open ocean was low, approximately 18% in each year. Escapement did not differ between impacted and un‐impacted rivers. This study showed no postpassage effects of weirs on mortality, migration speed or escapement of downstream migrating smolts. This suggests that the elevated mortality at low‐head obstacles described in other studies is not inevitable in all river systems. Migration through rivers with natural riffle‐pool migration may result in similar effects as those from low‐head weirs. Causes of apparent high mortality in the early part of marine migration in this study, are unknown; however similar studies have highlighted the impact of fish predators on smolts.     

Observations related to the homing instinct of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

By utilizing a unique freshwater/seawater mixing zone in Iceland, it is shown that maturing salmon returning from the ocean will not enter a freshwater body unless salmon fry or smolts are present in that very same body of water. This confirms Nordeng's hypothesis regarding the importance of “smell” or pheromones for local orientation of salmon. The observations under consideration, at the same time, seem to contradict Nordeng's hypothesis regarding the impact of smolts on homeward migration of salmon.     

Night stocking facilitates nocturnal migration of hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, smolts

Abstract  Hatchery-reared salmon, Salmo salar L., smolts are generally stocked during daylight hours, but the natural migration of smolts tends to occur at night. Recapture rates and timing of migration were compared between Atlantic salmon smolts stocked during the day and during the evening. Timing of release had no significant effect on the number of smolts recaptured, but had a strong effect on nocturnal behaviour. When stocked in the evening (but not during the day) hatchery-reared smolts moved almost exclusively during the night. This study suggests that timing the release to coincide with the natural time of smolt migration may provide valuable acclimatisation and facilitate nocturnal smolt passage.     

Effect of smolt age on migratory behaviour of Baltic salmon, Salmo salar L., transplanted to the east Atlantic

Abstract. This paper describes tests which were made to determine if smolt age at release influences the migratory pattern of three different stocks of salmon, Salmo salar L. The fish were hatchery-reared and released in two different rivers, the River Imsa and the River Akerselv. Based on the tag returns we found that Baltic salmon from the River Neva, USSR differed in migratory pattern from two Norwegian stocks from the River Lone and the River Imsa. A large proportion of the 2+ River Neva smolts stayed in the fjord during the summer and autumn after release. On the other hand, 2+ smolts of the Norwegian stocks left the fjord and migrated to the feeding areas in the Norwegian Sea within a short time after release. The 1+ smolts of all stocks showed the same migratory pattern as the 2+ smolts of Norwegian origin. We propose that the observed differences in migratory pattern are influenced by the developmental rate of the smolts. The effect of developmental rate on the migration may differ among stocks. Our results show that it is possible to develop a fjord fishery by releases of 2+ smolts of Neva salmon. However, such releases must be carried out with the utmost caution, preferably in fjords with no salmon rivers, so that the possibility of gene flow between populations is minimized.     

Diel migration pattern of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and sea trout (Salmo trutta) smolts: an assessment of environmental cues

The timing of smolt migration is a key phenological trait with profound implications for individual survival during both river descent and the subsequent sea sojourn of anadromous fish. We studied relationships between the time of smolt migration, water temperature and light intensity for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and sea trout (Salmo trutta). During 2006–2012, migrating smolts descending the southern Norway River Storelva were caught in a rotary screw trap located at the river mouth. The date of 50% cumulative smolt descent correlated significantly with the date when the river temperature exceeded 8°C for both Atlantic salmon and sea trout smolts. In 2010, smolts of both species were passive integrated transponder (PIT)‐tagged, and the diel timing of their migration was precisely documented. The degree of night migration decreased in both species as the river temperature rose, and at temperatures above 12–13°C, more smolts migrated during day than during night. A multinomial model was fitted for estimating temperature and species effects on probabilities of migration during night, daytime, dusk and dawn. Atlantic salmon smolts preferred migrating under lower light intensities than sea trout smolts during early, but not late spring when both species migrated during bright daylight. In accordance with the early‐season tendency to migrate at night, Atlantic salmon smolts migrated more during darker hours of the day than sea trout. In both species, smaller smolts migrated under dark conditions than during light conditions. Most of the findings on thermal, light and temporal effects on the observed smolt migration pattern can be explained as adaptations to predation avoidance.     

Fecundity and water flow influence the dynamics of Atlantic salmon

Populations are retained at reduced levels by resource competition and environmental stochasticity. In the Norwegian River Imsa, the relationship between fecundity of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) spawners and number of smolts per unit river area was investigated for cohorts spawned from 1976 to 2011. Annual number of smolts produced per unit area was best described by a multiplicative model and increased with the fecundity of the females as proxy for number of eggs deposited and the minimum water flow in August towards the end of the first growth season. Mean monthly water temperature, or water flow in any other month during the first year, had no significant effect on number of smolts produced. At sea, there was an almost linear relationship between number of emigrating smolts and returning adults, possibly because population abundance of Atlantic salmon is low relative to the carrying capacity in the ocean. Thus, both number of eggs spawned and minimum water flow in late summer influenced population abundance in the present river.     

Retrospective analysis of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) marine growth and condition in the northwest Atlantic based on tag‐recovery data

The life history of North American Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is characterized by extensive round‐trip migrations between freshwater rearing habitats and marine feeding grounds off the coasts of Canada and Greenland. Growth is rapid during the marine migration, and growth rate and condition factor may be indicators of salmon health during this period. Growth data were evaluated from a tag‐recovery program conducted from 1969 to 1991 using hatchery‐reared Atlantic salmon smolts released in the Penobscot River, Maine, U.S.A. Information from recaptures of 3167 salmon that were at large in the marine environment for 1 month to 3 yr was analyzed. Length–weight measurements coupled with time‐at‐large data were used to estimate von Bertalanffy and allometric growth parameters specific to the marine phase. Variations in growth and condition factor in relation to smolt age, release date, and temperature conditions in the northwest Atlantic were also examined. The von Bertalanffy k parameter declined with ordinal release date, indicating faster growth rates during the first year of smolts released earlier in the spring. The 2‐yr‐old smolts had a larger k than 1‐yr‐old smolts, although 1‐yr‐old smolts grew to a larger asymptotic size. Sea surface temperature had variable effects on growth parameters and condition factor, with temperature at the beginning of the migration and in overwintering habitat during the first year at sea having the greatest influence on length–weight relationships. Determining the mechanisms that influence growth of individuals during the marine phase will help elucidate the factors responsible for historic growth trends, establishing a baseline for current research.     

The effect of anosmia on the migration of Atlantic salmon smolts (Salmo salar L.) in freshwater

Wild and hatchery-reared salmon smolts of the Imsa strain were divided into two groups. One group was made anosmic by cutting the olfactory nerves, the other served as control. The smolts were released at three different sites in the Ims-Lutsi watercourse and recaptured in a fish trap at 100 m above the river estuary. The recapture rates in the trap decreased with increasing migratory distance for the smolts. The experiment indicates that the olfactory sense is not essential for smolt navigation through rivers and lakes.     

Differences in sea migration between wild and reared Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in the Baltic Sea

The effect of origin, smolt size and year of release on the sea migration pattern of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in the Baltic Sea was examined by tagging experiments conducted in 1991–1993 on wild and reared smolts of the Simojoki river salmon stock. The tag recovery data analysed by log-linear models revealed significant differences in both spatial and temporal sea migrations between the wild and reared salmon; the variation was attributed to the year of release and to the origin of the fish. Grilse accounted for the majority of reared returners (76%) but for a smaller proportion (46%) of the wild fish. The effect of smolt size could be studied only in the smolt groups tagged in 1991. Wild fish were more frequently (71%) caught in the Baltic Main Basin than were reared fish (51%) during their second sea year, and the size variation between wild and reared smolts did not explain the recovery site. No such differences in spatial distribution were found during the third sea year. The tagging place (hatchery/trap) of the reared fish did not affect their later sea migration. The differences in sea migration patterns suggest that the wild salmon are more vulnerable to the intensive salmon fishery in the Baltic Main Basin than are reared fish.     

Effects of Feeding High Monounsaturated Sunflower Oil Diets on Sensory Attributes of Salmonid Fillets

The purpose of this study was to determine if substituting high oleic acid sunflower oil for herring oil in formulated salmonid diets affected sensory attributes of fillets from coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Two feeding trials were conducted in which coho salmon and rainbow trout were fed diets containing either high oleic acid sunflower oil or herring oil as the supplemental lipid source (12.4% of the diet by weight) for 6-8 weeks. In standard directional triangle tests on previously frozen rainbow trout and coho salmon fillets stored at 5¦C for up to 10 days, a significant number of panelists were able to differentiate between fillets from the two dietary treatments based on aroma, and determined that the herring oil fillets had a ôfishierö aroma than the sunflower oil fillets. The panelists tended to prefer rainbow trout fillets from the sunflower oil treatment to fillets from the herring oil dietary treatment. These results suggest that increasing the monounsaturated fatty acid level in fish by feeding a high monounsaturated fatty acid finishing diet could potentially decrease oxidative rancidity, a major cause of quality deterioration in aquatic food products, and thereby improve the shelf life and sensory characteristics of the fillets.     

Atlantic salmon smolts in the Irish Sea: First evidence of a northerly migration trajectory

Results from an acoustic telemetry study revealed for the first time a northerly migration route for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) smolts leaving the east coast of Ireland. Atlantic salmon smolts were tagged in spring 2019 in the Castletown and Boyne rivers. Three tagged smolts registered on disparate deep‐water offshore marine receivers as they travelled northwards out of the Irish Sea through the North Channel. One fish had migrated an estimated 250 km in a period of 32 days. The remaining two individuals were detected on receivers located off the Northern Ireland coast, further corroborating the northward migration of salmon smolts through the Irish Sea.     

Release during night enhances survival of wild Atlantic salmon smolts

The effect of nocturnal and diurnal releases on survival and migration of wild and hatchery‐reared Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, L., smolts (n = 82) was investigated by releasing acoustically tagged smolts at the lower end of the River Vosso, Norway. Hatchery smolts was registered in the estuary within hours of their release, whereas wild smolts migrated over a prolonged period. The time of estuary exit was affected by river discharge but not by time of release. Progression rates were slow through the estuary (0.25 BL/s ± 0.18 SD) and fast through the fjord (1.80 BL/s ± 0.69 SD), and they were not affected by the time of release or origin. Survival to the fjord was low (0%–15%). Survival was not affected by body length but was lower for wild smolts than for hatchery smolts, and survival of the former was lower when the fish were released in daylight.     

Strontium levels in scales and vertebrae of wild and hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon, Salmo solar L., smolts

Abstract. Analyses of the Sr-contenl in scales of Atlantic salmon, Salmo saiar L ., smolts from two hatcheries revealed significant ( P < 0·001) differences. These differences were reflected in the Sr-conients of their respective diets. Sr-values in scale samples taken from wild salmon smolts from 10 Norwegian rivers showed a considerable variation. Analysis of variance showed that sampling site was the major source of variation. In general the Sr-content in scales cannot be used to distinguish between hatchery-reared and wild salmon smolls, although the present results nevertheless suggest that such a distinction is possible in some localities.
The Sr-contenl of the vertebrae was somewhat lower than that of the scales in both hatchery-reared and wild smolls. The Sr-conient of the scales of sea trout, Salmo trutta L., smolts from one of the sampling sites was significantly ( P < 0·001) higher than that of scales of Atlantic salmon smolts from the same site. The Sr-content of the scales of all the salmon smolts sampled from a lake was higher than the values recorded for sea trout and salmon after their stay in the sea. Use of the Sr-contenl of the scales todistinguish between migratory and resident individuals should therefore be done with care.     

The minimum dietary lysine requirement,maintenance requirement and efficiency of lysine utilization for growth of Atlantic salmon smolts

This study was conducted to evaluate and refine the dietary lysine requirement of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts using both the dose–response technique to determine the minimum dietary requirement and different ration levels to determine the maintenance lysine requirement and the efficiency of lysine utilization for growth. Diets containing 1.97–3.16% lysine (presented in protein‐bound form of lysine) were fed to satiation or at 25–75% ration levels to smolts during the last week in fresh water and the following 9 weeks in seawater. Based on the exponential lysine gain response to increasing dietary lysine concentrations, the minimum lysine requirement was found to be 2.67% of diet (dry matter basis; protein‐bound form or 3.05% free form). The smolts fed the unsupplemented diet maximally utilized the digestible lysine intake for growth. The efficiency of digestible lysine utilization for growth was 0.85 in the diet containing 2.88% lysine and the maintenance requirement was 21.7 mg digestible lysine kg^?0.7 day^?1.